Discover your next big idea at PACK EXPO Las Vegas this September
Experience a breakthrough in packaging & processing and transform your business with solutions from 2,300 suppliers spanning all industries.
REGISTER NOW & SAVE

Food Manufacturers Look to Reduce, Recycle and Reuse

Improvements to recyclability and sustainability, along with the desire to extend shelf life and prevent contamination, are some of the drivers of change in packaging formats and materials.

Food Manufacturers Look to Reduce, Recycle and Reuse
Food Manufacturers Look to Reduce, Recycle and Reuse

Nearly two out of three food manufacturing companies are looking for recyclable packaging solutions, according to a new report by PMMI Business Intelligence, and the majority of brand owners interviewed made at least one significant change to packaging substrate materials in order to increase ease of recycling.

The materials food companies are pursuing are primarily recyclable (64%), followed by compostable and variety/multi packs (both 30%), plant-based packaging (24%), multi-container formats (14%) and material reduction (4%). (Multiple answers were allowed.)

Said one Director of Process Engineering at a frozen and fresh meat, poultry, and seafood manufacturer, “Our goal is zero landfill, so we’re looking for packaging materials that are plant-based to be more recyclable or compostable.”

An Engineering Sr. Manager at a cereal and grains manufacturer said, “By 2025, our sustainability goal is to reduce the impact of our carbon footprint with packaging that is 100% recyclable, compostable, or degradable.”

According to the report, “2019 Trends and Advances in Food Packaging and Processing,” three out of five participants are also making processing and packaging changes to extend shelf-life, prevent contamination, and present a more sustainable consumer package. 36% percent of participants are testing sustainable materials, and 30% are introducing flexible formats. 13% are exploring bag-in-a-box, and seven percent are incorporating barrier films as well as single serve convenience packaging.

Some pointed out limitations, such as the Packaging Solutions Specialist who said,There are lots of materials in development, but none will have a major impact just yet; there is a need for more environmentally friendly materials that are cost neutral to be accepted.” Or the Packaging Engineer at a beverage manufacturer who said, “Flexible packaging with barriers in the film cannot be recycled, we need more innovative solutions.”

Flexible food packaging materials continue to be in demand and though there are limitations to recyclability, they do offer lower production requirements in terms of water, energy, and raw products, and produce less waste. They are also lighter, cutting down on transportation emissions.

Is your palletizing solution leaving money on the floor?
Discover which palletizing technology—robotic, conventional, or hybrid—will maximize your packaging line efficiency while minimizing long-term costs in this comprehensive analysis.
Read More
Is your palletizing solution leaving money on the floor?
Conveying Innovations Report
Editors report on distinguishing characteristics that define each new product and collected video demonstrating the equipment or materials as displayed at the show. This topical report, winnowed from nearly 300 PACK EXPO collective booth visits, represents a categorized, organized account of individual items that were selected based on whether they were deemed to be both new, and truly innovative, based on decades of combined editorial experience in experiencing and evaluating PACK EXPO products.
Take me there
Conveying Innovations Report